Friday, April 2, 2010

Video of smoking, swearing child horrifies Indonesia

A video posted on the Internet of a small boy smoking, swearing and making lewd sexual gestures has shocked Indonesia.

The short video appeared on YouTube over the weekend but was removed by the website on Wednesday for violating its terms of use, The Jakarta Globe daily reported.

It showed a boy aged about four puffing on a highly toxic clove cigarette, blowing smoke rings and swearing in an east Java dialect with the encouragement of adults, who can be heard laughing in the background.

Responding to questions from the adults, the child, called Sandy, said he wanted to be a thief when he grew up and spend his money on prostitutes.

Sitting on a tricycle, he also said his favourite thing in the world was "vaginas" and thrust his hips when asked to simulate intercourse.

Child protection officials told The Jakarta Globe that the video represented child abuse. The boy is believed to be from Malang, a town in east Java.

"There should be immediate psychological and medical treatment for the little boy as it will disturb his development. He cannot be like this," National Commission for Child Protection chairman Seto Mulyadi was quoted as saying.

A senior official from the women's empowerment and child protection ministry said an investigation team will soon meet the child's parents and local community leaders.

"We'll give a warning to the boy's parents and will cooperate with local community chiefs in order to prevent other kids in the surrounding neighbourhoods from engaging in this extreme behaviour," Wahyu Hartomo told AFP.

The team will also provide counselling to the child and closely monitor his psychological development, he said.